What are our favorite types of injectables and other minimally-invasive treatments that we would and do get for ourselves?

Some of our favorite treatments that we regularly get are Botox, laser facials like Halo and Moxi, hair restoration with PRP, SylfirmX RF microneedling, and biostimulators like Sculptra and Radiesse. We also often use several products in the Juvéderm® family of fillers.
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We especially love combination treatments, such as mixing biostimulators with laser facials and vitamin packed IVs. When treatments are stacked together, they can have a synergistic effect, meaning the combined outcomes are greater than if the treatments were done individually. 
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What type of cosmetic treatments we would never get and why? 

There are a few treatments we would never get like silicone filler products or anything brought in illegally to the US – there are a lot of black market products being used and injected in hotel rooms, and they are causing real problems. We see a lot of patients in our office who ask us to reverse the filler they’ve had done in other countries. Sadly, a lot of time it’s a silicone based filler, which isn’t able to be reversed with hyaluronidase and requires surgical removal.
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We also are not fans of Bellafill, which is PMMA, and also irreversible. Many patients can have reactions to the product years later and there is little that can be done about it. 
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Best practice for nasolabial fillers and Botox for TMJ

For any injectable, proper placement is always the key element to improving cosmetic outcomes and preventing filler migration. We prefer to address nasolabial folds by injecting a high G prime filler deep on bone along the piriform aperture. This does a lot to lift and smooth, especially if combined with skin treatments like Halo or more aggressive lasers like a Contour TRL Erbium. 
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Half of our patients that get masseter Botox are actually getting it for facial slimming effects, and the other half are getting it directly to treat TMJD, clenching and grinding. This can be a trickier injection technique, so it’s important to be treated by a licensed provider. 
 

Why you should avoid Belafill and silicone injectables
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We generally are not fans of irreversible injectable products since patients can have problems and react to the product and there is little we can do to help. The main culprit that is FDA-approved is Bellafill, and we dont use that in our office. I also would never inject free silicone as this is certain to cause problems and again the only option one has if and when they react to it is surgery and high dose, multi-drug, prolonged immunosuppression. Learn more about silicone fillers from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons here.

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For personalized recommendations, schedule a consultation at SOM Aesthetics to see how learn what non-invasive treatments are perfect for you.

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